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Eugene Oppio Obituary
Eugene G. Oppio passed away peacefully at his home in Mesa, Arizona, on March 9, 2016. He was born on January 13, 1924, at the Oppio Ranch on Glendale Road to Angelo Oppio and Caterina Casagrande. He was the youngest of eight children. He was predeceased by his wife, Elaine Van Meter, brothers Charles, Albert, Santino, and Leslie, and sisters Louise Fenech, Linda Benedetti, and Gloria Meyer, and granddaughter, Kristin Van Woert. He attended Glendale School and Sparks High School. Early in life, Gene was a rancher raising cattle, potatoes, onions, alfalfa and barley on his ranch on Wedekind Road. After the ranch was sold, he became involved in the development and construction of Meadowvale Subdivision in Sparks and later the Lakeridge Townhouses. After retirement, he enjoyed traveling with his wife, Susan, snowbirding in Mesa, Arizona, and spending summers at Hat Island, Washington, and Lake Tahoe, his heaven on earth.
Gene's favorite stories centered around hunting and his athletic endeavors, especially winning the state football championship for Sparks High School, playing on bowling and basketball teams with his brothers and making a hole in one at Washoe Golf Course on the old number one hole. The NY Yankees lost their best fan.
His family was very important to him. Gene's quick wit, honesty and outgoing personality made him an asset at any event. His stories will be missed by his wife, Susan Church, his daughters, Cathie Oppio (Les Mowery), Jeanne Stewart (David), Loraine Lexa (Billy), his grandchildren, Sara Bantle (Tim), Nick and Kenny Van Woert, Laura Kinnan, Elizabeth Centemeri (Ivano), Ben Stewart (Megan), Adrienne and Joseph Moulian (Kari) and his great-grandchildren, Hunter and Ian Bantle and Charlie and Isabela Moulian. He is also survived by sister-in-law and brothers-in-law, Procter and Barbara Hug and Bill Van Meter, and many nieces and nephews.
A graveside service for family is planned for Saturday, March 19, and a Celebration of his life will be Sunday, March 20, from 1-4 at the Coney Island Bar where he often met friends at Coffee Club. In his memory, donations may be made to Assistance League of Reno-Sparks, P.O. Box 7376, Reno, NV, 89510, or one's favorite charity.
To plant trees in memory, please visit the Sympathy Store.
Memories and Condolences
for Eugene Oppio
6 Entries
Carol Hendricks-Bender
March 20, 2016
Gene Oppio is a fine example of a wonderful father! He raised three exceptional daughters and was a well know and respected citizen. He will be missed. My sincere sympathies go to his family and friends. I am especially thinking of my dear classmate, Cathie. May your memories bring you comfort!
michael perry
March 18, 2016
Gene was a great man. A close friend of our dad, Tex Luchetti, Gene also contracted him to do all the concrete work on the entire Meadowvale subdivision. Both there during 1963and after on many other projects, he would make fun out of work as he shared his many stories and jokes. Gene will be missed. May God bless his family with peace.
March 18, 2016
We would like to offer our condolences to Gene's family. He was a wonderful friend and neighbor here in Mesa, AZ. His was a life well lived.
Dave & JoAnna Crawford
March 18, 2016
My deepest sympathy goes out to the family. May you find comfort from our God of comfort during this difficult time Act 24:15
BC~
Jeff Siri
March 15, 2016
My condolences to the family. Gene was such a great person. I have great memories of Chukar hunting with him, my dad and my brother. Gene acted as my dad in a father son golf tournament in Truckee, yes we won. I also remember flooding his lawn to get night crawlers for fishing and chasing his horses around in the pasture above the house so that we could ride them.
Gene, Elaine and my parents, George and Sue Siri, were great friends. They enjoyed many golf days together and many dinners. My dad, who is in poor health, sends his best to all of the family.
God Bless, Jeff Siri
March 15, 2016
I'm so sorry to hear about your Dad. I have such great memories of him in my high school years.
Seeing his picture and reading his obituary actually made me smile (I hope that's not insensitive).
I can picture him sitting in his chair in the little TV nook. He was always so sweet to me, whether it was just a Saturday night sleep over with Loraine or a week at the house at Lake Tahoe.
You girls had a Fantastic Dad!
With heartfelt thoughts and prayers for the whole family
Cheri Peterson (Cordova)
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